Blackberry plant named ‘Eclipse’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed produced from a cross between the female blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1393-1’ (unpatented) and the male blackberry plant ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented). This new blackberry is unique in that it contains all three commercial blackberry types (trailing, erect, and semi-erect) in its pedigree as either a parent or a grandparent. This new blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by being early ripening for a semi-erect blackberry, by its medium-sized, firm berries with tough skin and very good flavor, by its medium to high yields borne on a vigorous plant with a semi-erect type growth habit and by its completely thornless canes.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘Eclipse’ is ablackberry plant that is Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.

Variety denomination: The new blackberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘Eclipse’ Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivardesignated ‘Eclipse’ and botanically known as Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.This new blackberry cultivar was discovered in Corvallis, Oreg. inAugust 2004 and originated from a cross between the female blackberryplant ‘ORUS 1393-1’ (unpatented) and the thornless, male parentblackberry plant ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented). ‘ORUS 1393-1’ (unpatented)was a selection from a cross of the thornless erect blackberry ‘Navaho’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) and a thorny trailing blackberry selectionORUS 1122-1 (unpatented). Therefore ‘Eclipse’ represents a uniquepedigree with all three of the main types of blackberry used in breedingfor commercial cultivars represented in its pedigree as it's paternalparent is a hybrid of an erect and trailing blackberry genotype and itsmaternal parent is a semi-erect blackberry. ‘Eclipse's’ spinelessnesswas originally derived from ‘Merton Thornless’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.571). The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagatedat a nursery in Benton County, Oreg. The new cultivar was established invitro from a cane cutting and microcuttings have been taken and rootedfrom this sort of culture. The present invention has been found to bestable and reproduce true to type through successive asexualpropagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Oregon. 1. High plant vigor as compared tosemi-erect blackberry ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782); 2.Semi-erect growth habit with thornless canes; 3. Early date for 50% ofripe fruit compared to ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) and ‘TripleCrown’ (unpatented) 4. Firm fruit with tough skin compared to ‘TripleCrown’ (unpatented); 5. Better flavor than ‘Chester Thornless’(unpatented) and ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782); 6. Smaller,firmer, and more symmetrically shaped fruit than those for its sibling‘Galaxy’ (plant patent applied for), that also ripens later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographsthat show the flowers, fruit and entire plants; the colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

FIG. 1. shows typical fruiting cluster with ripe fruit ‘Eclipse’ on a2-year old plant.

FIG. 2. shows an entire flat of harvested ‘Eclipse’ fruit.

FIG. 3. shows two clamshells of ‘Eclipse’ fruit after 14 days ofrefrigerated storage at ˜1° C.

FIG. 4. shows an entire flowering 4-year old ‘Eclipse’ plant. As istypical for commercial production, semi-erect blackberry primocanes aretopped at ˜1 m and the primocanes and laterals that develop aftertopping are tied to a two wire trellis with the lower wire approximately1.0 m above the ground and the upper wire approximately 1.5 m above theground.

FIG. 5. shows the thornless primocanes on a typical 2-year old crown of‘Eclipse’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘Eclipse’ is based on observations on 2- to5-year old plants taken from 2012 to 2017 growing seasons in trials inCorvallis and Aurora, Oreg. This description is in accordance with UPOVterminology. Color designations, color descriptions and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic and cultural conditions. ‘Eclipse’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. London (R.H.S.) (5^(th)edition, 2007).

Table 1 shows important plant characteristics of the new cultivar.Characteristics include plant vigor, growth habit, date 50% of fruitwere ripe, weight of primary fruit, firmness of fruit flavor of fruitand winter tolerance in Aurora, Oreg. (45° 16′ 49″ N/122° 44′ 50″ W) andLynden, Wash. (48° 56′ 48″ N/122° 27′ 2″ W).

TABLE 1 Characteristic Eclipse Plant vigor High vigor, greater than LochNess, similar to Triple Crown and less than Chester THornless Growthhabit Semi-erect Date 50% of fruit 2 Aug., early compared to TripleCrown and Chester were ripe Thornless Weight of primary 6.35 g, largerthan Chester Thornless and smaller than fruit Triple Crown Firmness offruit Excellent, firmer than Triple Crown and as firm as ChesterThornless Skin toughness of Excellent, better than Triple Crown andsimilar to fruit Chester Thornless Flavor of fruit Very good, betterthan Chester Thornless or Loch Ness Winter tolerance in Excellent(comparable to Triple Crown and Chester Aurora, Oregon Thornless) (45°16′ 49″ N/ 122° 44′ 50″ W) Winter tolerance in Excellent (comparable toTriple Crown and Chester Lynden, Washington Thornless) (48° 56′ 58″ N/122° 27′ 2″ W)

Table 2 shows floricane and mature primocane characteristics of the newcultivar. Characteristics include diameter at base, diameter atmidpoint, diameter at terminus, internode length at base, internodelength at midpoint, internode length at terminus, presence of spinesfurther than 0.6 m from the soil surface, presence of spines less than0.6 m from the soil surface, floricane color at base, floricane color atmidpoint, floricane color at terminus, floricane lateral length,floricane lateral strength, primocane color at base, primocane color atmidpoint, primocane color at terminus, floricane length, and floricanelength (range).

TABLE 2 Characteristic Eclipse Diameter at base 1.94 cm Diameter atmidpoint 1.30 cm Diameter at terminus 0.22 cm Internode length at base3.83 cm Internode length at midpoint 5.72 cm Internode length atterminus 4.55 cm Presence of spines further than 0.6 m Absent from thesoil surface Presence of spine less than 0.6 m from Absent the soilsurface Floricane color at base 144A Floricane color at midpoint 144AFloricane color at terminus 144B FLoricane lateral length Medium-longFloricane lateral strength Medium Primocane color at base 144A blushedwith 166A Primocane color at midpoint 143C blushed with 200A Primocanecolor at terminus 144B blushed with 183A Floricane length 2.46 mFloricane length (range) 1.38-3.00 m

Table 3 shows primocane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar.Primocane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, maturecompound leaf length, number of leaflets per primocane compound leaf,mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, matureterminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature firstlateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leafletmargin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width atbase, spine presence on leaves, pubescence on primocane leaflet: uppersurface, pubescence on primocane leaflet: undersurface, primocane leafcolor abaxial, primocane leaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiolecolor: upper surface, petiole color: undersurface, petiolule length:terminal leaflet, petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolulecolor: abaxial, petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, stipule width,and stipule attitude.

TABLE 3 Characteristic Eclipse Mature compound leaf width 25.90 cmMature compound leaf length 22.72 cm Number of leaflets per primocane 5compound leaf Mature leaflet shape Oval; some orbicular Mature leafletapex Abruptly acuminate Mature leafelt base Acute Mature terminalleaflet width  9.50 cm Mature terminal leaflet length 12.47 cm Maturefirst lateral leaflet width  7.77 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length11.25 cm Leaflet margin Doubly serrate Leaflet serration teeth length 0.26 cm Leaflet serration teeth width at base  0.70 cm Spine presenceon leaves No Pubescence on primocane leaflet: upper None surfacePubescence on primocane leaflet: Yes, light undersurface Primocane leafcolor abaxial N137B Primocane leaf color adaxial 137B Petiole length 6.77 cm Petiole color: upper surface 145B strongly blushed with 187APetiole color: undersurface 145B blushed with 187A Petiolule length:terminal leaflet  3.55 cm Petiolule length: first distal leaflet  2.20cm Petiolule color: abaxial 145B blushed with 187A Petiolule color:adaxial 145B blushed with 187A Stipule lenght  1.84 cm Stipule width 0.08 cm Stipule attitude Erect

Table 4 shows floricane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar.Floricane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, maturecompound leaf length, number of leaflets per floricane compound leaf,mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, matureterminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature firstlateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leafletmargin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width atbase, pubescence on floricane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence onfloricane leaflet: undersurface, floricane leaf color abaxial, floricaneleaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiolule length: terminal leaflet,petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolule color: abaxial,petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, and stipule width.

TABLE 4 Characteristic Eclipse Mature compound leaf width 17.37 cmMature compound leaf length 11.32 cm Number of leaflets per floricanecompound leaf 2-5, typically 3 Mature leaflet shape Ovate Mature leafletapex Broadly acute Mature leaflet base Acute Mature terminal leafletwidth 7.33 cm Mature terminal leaflet length 9.70 cm Mature firstlateral leaflet width 6.87 cm Mature first lateral leaflet length 9.00cm Leaflet margin Doubly serrate Leaflet serration teeth length 0.35 cmLeaflet serration teeth width at base 0.43 cm Pubescence on floricaneleaflet: upper surface Light Pubescence on floricane: leafletundersurface Heavy Floricane leaf color abaxial N137A FLoricane leafcolor adaxial N138B Petiole length 4.42 cm Petiole color adaxial 144APetiole color abaxial 144D Petiolule length terminal leaflet 1.7 cmPetiolule length first distal leaflet 1.89 cm Petiolule color abaxial144A Petiolule color adaxial 144C Stipule length 1.15 cm Stipule width0.18 cm

Table 5 shows flower and flowering characteristics of the new cultivar.Flower and flowering characteristics include date 1st bloom, date fullbloom, date last bloom, petal color, the number flowers per cluster, thenumber of petals per flower, flower diameter, petal length, petal width,and the number of sepals per flower.

TABLE 5 Characteristic Eclipse Date 1^(st) bloom 10 May Date full bloom27 May Date last bloom 3 Jun Petal color NN155B Number flowers percluster 7.87 Number of petals per flower 5.22 Flower diamteter  3.28 cmPetal length  1.47 cm Petal width  1.12 cm Number of sepals per flower 5Peduncle length 17.87 cm Rachis length 14.43 cm Peduncle color N144ACyme type Simple raceme

Table 6 shows fruit and fruiting characteristics of the new cultivar.Fruit and fruiting characteristics include date 5% of fruit were ripe,date 50% of fruit were ripe, date 95% of fruit were ripe, weight ofprimary fruit, weight of secondary fruit, diameter of primary fruit atequator, diameter of 2° fruit at equator, diameter of 1° fruit at poles:tip, diameter of 1° fruit at poles: base, diameter of 2° fruit at poles:tip, diameter of 2° fruit at poles: base, berry length 1° fruit, berrylength 2° fruit, ratio of primary fruit length to width, shapedescription, uniformity of berry shape, color when full ripe, number ofdrupelets per fruit, individual seed weight, glossiness, firmness,flavor, texture of fruit when chewed, drupelet skin resistance toabrasion, ease of separation of fruit from pedicel, machineharvestability, resistance to heat damage of fruit, berries perinflorescence—mean, berries per inflorescence range, soluble solids (%;in Brix), pH, titratable acidity (% as citric acid), yield (actualkg·plt⁻¹), disease response, and red berry mite response.

TABLE 6 Characteristic Eclipse Date 5% of fruit were ripe 18 Jul. Date50% of fruit were ripe 2 Aug. Date 95% of fruit were ripew 24 Aug.Weight of primary fruit 6.35 g Weight of secondary fruit 6.13 g Weightof tertiary fruit 5.55 g Diameter of primary fruit at equator 1.73 cmDiameter of 2° fruit at equator 1.99 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at equator1.89 cm Diameter of 1° fruit at poles: tip 0.94 cm Diameter of 1° fruitat poles: base 1.63 cm Diameter of 2° fruit at poles: tip 0.92 cmDiameter of 2° fruit at poles: base 1.78 cm Diameter of 3° fruit atpoles: tip 1.17 cm Diameter of 3° fruit at poles: base 1.56 cm Berrylength primary fruit 2.58 cm Berry length 2° fruit 2.72 cm Berry length3° fruit 2.52 cm Ratio of primary fruit length to width  1.48 Shapedescription Conical to barrel, slightly irregular Uniformity of berryshape Good Color when full ripe 203C Number of druplets per fruit 88.67Total seed weight per fruit 222.92 mg Individual seed weight 2.52 mgGlossiness Glossy Firmness Very firm Flavor Very good Texture of fruitwhen chewed Fair-good Druplet skin resistance to abrasion Excellent Easeof separation of fruit from Fair pedicel Machine harvestability FairResistance to heat damage of fruit Sweet Berries per inflorescence-mean 6.33 Berries per inflorescence range 5-9 Soluble solids (%; in Brix)13.85 pH  3.37 Titratable acidity (% as citric acid)  9.90 Yield (actualkg · plt⁻¹)  6.93 Disease response Under a typical, minimal, diseasemanagement program does not exhibit any particular disease problems Redberry mite (Acalitus essigi) Susceptible but fewer symptoms responsethan on Triple Crown

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Eclipse’ differs from the female parent blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1393-1’(unpatented) in that ‘Eclipse’ is thornless and the fruit have a sweet,pleasant flavor and are more uniformly shaped, while ‘ORUS 1393-1’ hasthorny canes and the fruit are slightly bitter and the drupelets areunevenly set.

‘Eclipse’ differs from the male parent blackberry plant ‘Triple Crown’(unpatented) in that it is earlier ripening (50% ripe fruit on 2 August)with medium sized (6.35 g) fruit that are firm with a tough skin, while‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) is mid-season ripening (16 August) withlarge (7.50 g) fruit that are soft with tender skin.

‘Eclipse’ is earlier ripening than other commercial semi-erectblackberries such as ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) or ‘Chester Thornless’(unpatented). ‘Eclipse’ ripens in a similar season to the semi-erectblackberry ‘Loch Ness’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,782) but is more vigorousgrowing and has firmer fruit with a sweeter flavor. ‘Eclipse’ is nottypically as high yielding as ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) or‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented). The fruit of ‘Eclipse’ are firm and have atough skin like those of ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) and are firmerand much tougher skinned than ‘Triple Crown’ (unpatented) fruit.‘Eclipse’ fruit are sweeter than ‘Chester Thornless’ (unpatented) fruitdue to higher percent soluble solids and lower titratable acidity andpH.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of thornlessblackberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described,characterized by its medium sized fruit that are sweet, firm and have atough skin and that ripen earlier than most semi-erect blackberrycultivars.